CRO PEASANTS' PARTY PRESENTS ECONOMIC PROGRAMME FOR ELECTIONS

ZAGREB, Dec 17 (Hina) - The revision of the privatisation process, the reduction of the overall tax burden, and the increase of special taxes which have no direct influence on the standard of economy are some of the basic points of the economic programme of the Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS) for the January 3 parliamentary elections. Outlining the programme to reporters in Zagreb on Friday, HSS president Zlatko Tomcic said the ruling party's economic practice could not be mended. The reforms the HSS has envisaged for the post-electoral period include the revision of the privatisation process, the annulment of illegal privatisation contracts, and the returning of ownership shares to the state portfolio. According to Damir Novotny, the chairman of the HSS Expert Council, the above stated tasks should take several months, should not bring additional budgetary costs, and would be undertaken by the Privatisation Fund. The HSS advocates the reduction of the overall tax burden, and envisages some higher special taxes, for instance on cigarettes, beer, and alcoholic drinks. The HSS programme also envisages budgetary saving. According to Novotny, budgetary spending in 2000 would be cut by 18 percent, while the budget would revolve around US$5.3 billion. Speaking about presidential elections, HSS president Tomcic said he would run for Croatian president if the general atmosphere in the HSS, the Liberal Party (LS), and the Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS) favoured it, and if party bodies also endorsed it. He also said that if the Croatian People's Party (HNS) ran its candidate for presidential elections, that would not deteriorate relations between the HSS and the HNS, nor among the parties making the Opposition Four coalition. The coalition comprises the HSS, the LS, the IDS, and the HNS. (hina) ha mm